Four Seasons Ball Crystal Gala to Honor Martin Schwartz of Trumbull

This year’s Four Seasons Ball Crystal Gala will mark a night to remember as hundreds of Kennedy Center supporters honor the noteworthy accomplishments of Martin D. Schwartz, the agency’s first President and CEO, who is retiring.

Save the date of Saturday, November 4 for this wonderful philanthropic evening to benefit The Kennedy Center's Residential Services. The elegant Rolling Hills Country Club, 333 Hurlbutt Street, Wilton will serve as the beautiful backdrop for the evening’s festivities.

This popular charity event will fete Martin D. Schwartz in recognition of over 39 years of exceptional advocacy and leadership in support of people with disabilities.

Black tie optional attire is requested for one of the longest running charity galas in Fairfield County. Come enjoy a social hour with hors d’oeuvres starting at 7 p.m., followed by a full-course dinner and dancing to the band Cracked Ice until midnight. Proceeds will benefit The Kennedy Center’s residential services for people with disabilities.

The 53rd Annual Four Seasons Ball is being by co-chaired by Michele Macauda and Richard Burke of Monroe. Ball committee members are: Trumbull residents Vanessa Fahy, Nancy Dennin, and Elaine Schwartz; Fairfield residents Corey Allen, Maryla Colandrea, Anne Foley, and Allyson Mandelbaum; Shelton residents Bonnie Smith and Dottie Kellersman; Jo Ann McMullan of Westport, Anna Maisner of Easton, Deb Kane of Derby, and Andrea Stevko of Milford

Also playing a major leadership role is Sean Carroll of Trumbull, Chair of the Tribute Journal. He is overseeing a committee of 27 community leaders.

When Marty Schwartz became the first President and CEO of The Kennedy Center in 1978, this small community-based rehabilitation organization was a grassroots non-profit founded in 1951 by its namesake Evelyn Kennedy and 12 parents. At the time, the agency served less than 200 adults with intellectual disabilities, employed 48 staff, and operated with an annual budget of $776,000. Now headquartered in Trumbull, The Kennedy Center serves over 2,000 individuals annually from birth through their senior years with a variety of disabilities, employs over 750 staff, and operates with an annual $32 million budget. Today, the agency is one of the largest employers in the region and one of the largest rehabilitation organizations in the State of Connecticut.

Presently, through Marty’s leadership and foresight, The Kennedy Center offers a broad range of programs and services for children, adults, and the elderly with diverse disabilities through its Rehabilitation Services, Residential Services and Kennedy Industries Divisions. Some of the noteworthy programs include: birth to three services; after school supports; the establishment of 31 community experience programs and 16 group homes; an industries program composed of six businesses providing competitive services in cleaning, scanning/shredding, catering, lawncare and framing; acquired brain injury support services; mental health services and the Maggie Daly Arts Cooperative (MDAC) in downtown Bridgeport offering unique opportunities for artists with and without disabilities for creation and expression in a supportive environment.

During his tenure at The Kennedy Center, new needs evolved in the community where program services were limited or non-existent. Marty listened to the parents; worked with his highly trained staff; and along with the Board of Directors, found the funding for these new initiatives and created one groundbreaking program after another. In doing so, The Kennedy Center established itself as a noted and nationally recognized rehabilitation organization delivering quality innovative program services. Some examples include Travel Training, Caring for the Caregiver and The Norma F. Pfriem Alzheimer’s Center at Faust Hall, all of which were firsts in Connecticut to address these needs. In addition to the development of many new programs, Marty also oversaw two major million dollar capital campaigns that led to the expansion of The Kennedy Center.

Beyond The Kennedy Center, he has extended his leadership ability to numerous community and philanthropic organizations throughout the state. He has served as President of the Trumbull Chamber of Commerce, President of the Probus Club of Greater Bridgeport, and President of the Connecticut Community Providers Association, the statewide advocacy organization for organizations serving individuals with disabilities. In 2000, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Bridgeport. Other honors have included the Regional Leadership Award from the Bridgeport Regional Business Council; Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award from the Bridgeport Dental Association; Probian of the Year from the Probus Club of Bridgeport; Lifetime Achievement Award from the Connecticut Community Providers Association; and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission Humanitarian Award.

On the national level, Marty has been an accreditation surveyor from 1984 to the present for CARF, the international accreditation body for rehabilitation organizations. His commitment to excellence is unparalleled. Since 1981, The Kennedy Center has sought and consistently achieved the highest accreditation from CARF. Most recently, the organization has received three perfect accreditations, an outstanding accomplishment achieved by less than 1% of those seeking accreditation internationally.

Marty has announced his retirement after 39 years and will officially step down in January 2018. He plans to travel with his wife Elaine, to whom he has been married for 43 years, and enjoy his grandchildren. Marty and Elaine first met as students at Syracuse University and have two children, Michael and Allyson. Michael has twins, a boy and a girl with his wife, Jill and Allyson has a son and daughter with her husband, Bryan.

Many sponsors have given generously to make this 53rd anniversary celebration special. The top Diamond Sponsors are the Bannow Larson Foundation and RD Scinto; Platinum Sponsors are General Electric, Michele Macauda and Richard Burke of Monroe, and People’s United Bank; Gold Sponsors are Deirdre Daly and Alfred Pavlis of Fairfield, Sapphire Sponsors are William and Gloria Paul of Trumbull and Merit Insurance. At the Emerald level are Anne and Peter Foley of Fairfield, Carla and Peter Gavey of Fairfield, Newtown Savings Bank, Pullman & Comley, and Diane Thompson and Chip Carpenter of Newtown.

Tickets for the Four Seasons Ball are $200 per person and can be ordered online at www.thekennedycenterinc.org. For more information, call 203.365.8522, Ext. 213.